Sumlin officially inks new $5 million deal that includes $5 million buyout

COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M fans hoping coach Kevin Sumlin would truly be locked in for the long term can finally rest easy – he’s officially signed his new contract following the regents’ approval of the updated details on Thursday.

A&M announced the numbers of his new deal that runs through 2019 on Thursday night, and as expected he will receive $5 million annually, up from his $3.1 million annually this past year. The new contract also includes a $5 million buyout. He originally signed with A&M for $2 million annually two years ago, but received a salary increase following last year’s 11-2 finish.

The No. 21 Aggies slid back to 8-4 this season, but multiple reports listed Sumlin as Southern Cal’s top choice (a gig that eventually went to Washington’s Steve Sarkisian) and A&M scrambled to keep him in College Station with the announcement of a new deal on Nov. 30.

Following the hashing out of all the fine print by lawyers, the regents approved the updated numbers, and Sumlin apparently quickly inked the new deal on Thursday. A&M takes on 10-3 Duke on New Year’s Eve in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.